Fenland GPs being offering covid vaccine

GP surgeries in Wisbech are among the latest to open their Covid-19 vaccination services this week, as the roll out of the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history gains further momentum.

Health providers are setting up local vaccination centres at surgeries which are part of the Octagon Medical Practice in Wisbech and also in south Peterborough through the Lakeside Healthcare Group.

They have worked rapidly to redesign their sites and put in place safe processes to meet the tough logistical challenges of offering the vaccination.

Their teams have been working hard to contact those aged 80 and over, as well as care home workers and residents, identified as priority groups for the life-saving vaccine.

Patients are being told not to contact the surgeries but to wait to be contacted by the NHS who will tell people in the priority groups when it is their turn to receive the vaccine.

Kerry Gardner, group lead nurse for Lakeside Healthcare Group which runs one of the practices involved in the programme, said, “I’m proud as a local GP that we are part of huge national effort to protect our patients against the virus. If you are invited to book an appointment, we would urge you to take up this opportunity.

“Do not call the GP practice to book as we will contact you. Please be assured that our GP practices will remain open for patients and if you have any medical concerns you should contact us as usual.”

GP sites providing jabs will be spread across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, more will join on a phased basis. The latest phase of the vaccine roll-out is being co-ordinated by GP-led Primary Care Networks (PCNs) with more practices and community pharmacies in other parts of England joining on a phased basis during December and in New Year.